Comedy in decline
 

I remember the greats.

Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd in the silent era.
The Marx Brothers, the Ritz Brothers, and the Three Stooges in the pre-WWII era.
Milton Berle, Sid Ceaser, Jerry Lewis, Lucille Ball, Buddey Hackett, Don Knotts, Jerry Lewis, and most of the cast of the Carol Burnett Show.

Since the 1990's where are all the great comics. The ones who were 'out there' and were not afraid to look stupid. I'm not talking about Tim Allen, who plays a normal guy in absurd situations, I'm talking about flat-out foolishness.

Andy Kauffman could have been great if he hadn't died.
Jim Varney was good but never really took off.
Dudley Moore was great before he passed away.

The only significant body of work by living comics in movies and TV is by Jim Carrey and Robin Williams.

Where are all of the rest of the zany comedians?


Look at the cast of . It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) and compare it with Scavenger Hunt (1979) and Rat Race (2001) .

The new comedies are cute but where are the real screwball comedies? When was the last time you laughed so hard at a movie that you got the hiccups or had to catch your breath?

I don't think I've seen a really funny movie since

My Favorite Year (1982) . Before that it was Arthur and 10.

Can anyone think of any truly hilarious, laugh-out-loud, wacky comedies made since 1990?

All the good wacky comedy these days is animated.

You are right, they are all dead. John Candy, Richard Pryor, John Belushi just to reel off three. I was literally depressed when I heard John Candy died.

And the farm systems have all dried up it seems. SNL is out of real talent and Mad TV sucks donkey wangers. And Canada isn't crankin' em out like they used to on SCTV (John Candy, Rick Moranis, Eugene Levy, the Mom from Home Alone and several others).

And Seinfeld retired even tho he was more interesting than funny.

But, there was only one Buster Keaton. Just unbelievable talent.

Sam kinison.And he was more cereberal than many of you might guess.

The last time I had trouble breathing in the movie theater was while watching <a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0274166/">Johnny English</a>.

Of course, I don't really go for most of the people you listed. The Stooges annoy me, and Jim Carrey is sort of inane. Robin Williams is okay, given limited exposure and if you disregard certain films, and I'm not very familiar with many of the others.

So maybe it's like the fall of the Roman empire. You can argue that it happened, that it didn't happen, or that it was just a change of name and shift of location: Maybe the great comics of today just aren't doing slapstick. Maybe cynical sarcasm and <a href="http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_shows/thedailyshowwithjonstewart/">bitter mockery of current events</a> is the Great Comedy of today.

would transsexual count as zany?

eddie izzard makes me pee

Dave Chappelle!

Down here we get his half hour show once a week and It's easily the funniest skit comedy around.
One episode a fat white guy moved into a house full of every black stereotype imaginable. Cringeworthy but funny as hell.
I plan around it and, for me, that's really saying something

I respect and knowledge the greats that were mentioned in the opening post, but for me, my personal favorites are:

-Richard Pryor
-Bill Cosby (his stand up on HBO in 1984 that he based his show on made me HOWL!!)
-Flip Wilson (loved watching him do Geraldine)
-Redd Foxx
-Eddie Murphy (not as funny now as he was in his heyday, but I still like him)

More recent:
-The Wayans (all of them!)
-Cedric The Entertainer
-Steve Harvey
-D.L. Hughley (spelling??)
Dave Chappelle

I also like Jim Carey, Robin Williams ("Mork calling Orsen, come in Orsen!"), Gene Wilder...my goodness, just too many to mention!

Not a huge fan of the Three Stooges...I just don't see what's funny about being poked in the eye...that shit hurts!!!

Chris Rock does hilarious standup, but he seems to actively avoid good movies.

Janeane Garofalo is funny, but I haven't seen her do any stand up or movies in a while.

Margaret Cho is funny stand up usually, but it is inconsistently so to me.

I recently saw a Robin Williams HBO special (a year or so old) and it was hysterically funny. This guy has not lost his touch for stand up.

I wonder how Jim Carrey's new movie is going to be like. I mostly like his work, but there are exceptions.

I might take some flak for this, but damn I love George Carlin. Sure its dirty, bitter, and a little hateful, but I think the comments on society are amusing.

Not a huge fan of the Three Stooges...I just don't see what's funny about being poked in the eye...that shit hurts!!!

These guys are hilarious because they are THE originals. Their acts will never fade away, nor cease to be funny to me. Come on -- it doesn't get funnier than connecting the water line to the electrical conduits and having some poor chef go nuts as the lightbulbs fill with water, stove sprays him, etc.

Dane Cook!

His "Comedy Central Presents" performance made my stomach cramp I laughed so hard.


Margaret Cho makes me want to vomit though. She's the farthest thing from "wacky" I think I can imagine.

The acidy spit! I WANT THAT! Why not ME??

Now that guy is cerebral. He's got great writers or he's got the best comedy mind to come along in a while. Or both. the bit he did with everything looks better in slow motion, was completely out of left field.
For off the cuff, improvisation, Robin Williams gets my vote.

I'll cast a vote for Whose Line Is It Anyway? Minus Drew Carey, those comics are talented. This is from a guy who USED to do stand up and let his "big break" go, for which I shall be forever bitter.

I don't think *I* could make up comedy on the spot like they do and certainly could not invent "song" lyrics, no matter how stupid.
Improvisational comedy is the toughest, in my opinion. Sometimes, I'm inspired to make really funny jokes, but most times I recycle other comics' material whether or not I'm aware of it. Legacy of listening to WYSP on Sunday nights back around the early eighties. Then I'd tune in WIP for the Mystery Theatre. Man, I liked to hear the old fashioned radio telecasts. There isn't anything on the radio to match that anymore.

Brian

I don't spend the kind of time listening to comics that I once did ... if I go through my boxes of LPs (no record player) and cassette tapes I have a number of comedy albums, including Vaughn Meador's "The First Family", David Frye's "Richard Nixon: A Fantasy", a couple of Steve Martin albums, Bobcat Goldthwait's "Meat Bob", and some Bill Cosby classics from the 60s including "Wonderfulness", "Why is There Air", "Bill Cosby is a Very Funny Fellow (RIGHT)", Robin Williams "Reality, What a Concept."

I even have the Saturday Night Live Album that was produced when the show was young and still funny and fresh.

Lenny Bruce, before he started reading the text of his obscenity suit was great, and Bill Hicks is sorely, sorely missed.

It's been a very LONG time since I've heard any comic that truly brought tears to my eyes and had me gasping for breath from the laughter.

It's not, I suppose, that things aren't as funny anymore, but that comedic styles have changed to be more focused on the overly laconic Seinfeld style comedy, which while interesting and occasionally amusing, isn't gut-busting funny.

I haven't been able to watch very many HBO comedy specials either. They still MAKE them, they just aren't worth my time. Eddie Izzard is quite cool ... but he's British, so he can't help it.

The interesting thing about the Stooges is that they were second bananas to Ted Healy, who created and managed the act as"Ted Healy and His Racketeers", "Ted Healy and His Three Southern Gentlemen", "Ted Healy and His Gang," or "Ted Healy and His Stooges". The fact that they broke off and went on to surpass Healy just illustrates that in show business talent usually rises to the top.

Jonathan Harris is a good example of talent. He took an unsympathetic character in "Lost in Space", goofed himself up, and stretched what I heard was supposed to be a 'guest star' role through the entire run of the show.

The farm system analogy does work. Mike Meyers came from SNL and is doing great work, and in true Jerry Lewis fashion is taking full creative control and working behind the camera.

I still want more. SNL is in decline..again. Mad TV is doing some good stuff. 'Whose Line Is It" is interesting, but it's still just improvisation, and nothing like "Your Show of Shows" or the other greats.

Watching Phil Silvers and Zero Mostel go head to head in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", or the entire 'Who's on First" skit reminded me that I haven't seen anything that good in over a decade.

The time has come for your household to embrace the evil cable.

I have cable, and still can't find good new hilarious comedy. Some of the standup is ok, but still nothing like the old days.

How about Colin Quinn's show following the Daily Show?

Colin Quinn is good, as well as Dave Chappelle.

I've also become a big fan of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" on HBO...this season has been especially funny thus far.

hysterical, but painful to watch.

i stopped as i was walking past the tv last week, and Larry was tyring to sneak a peek at some sports star's package as they peed at urinals next to each other. i ran out of the room, but still heard him getting busted by the guy. :blush: he IS george costanza, isnt he? gives me the same creepy vibes.

He and Richard Lewis were looking at Muggsy Bogues's package b/c Richard was concerned that the new girl he was seeing (who was black) might find his penis inadequate.

The show is a lot like Seinfeld, but the language is more liberal and the storylines are better. Goddamn, I love that show.

John Henson
 

Anyone seen the John Henson project show yet? It's on right after Monday Night Raw and it is very funny. He has a man of the week who does something crazy. Last week I think it was this farmer who fell off of his tractor or something and it ripped his arm off at the shoulder. The farmer then picked up his arm got on the tractor drove to the road got off the tractor opened the gate got back onthe tractor drove through the gate got off again and shut the gate (dont forget he has his arm ripped off) gets back on the tractor and drives himself to get help. Anyone else find this odd? Screw the gate your damn arm got ripped off! Geez.

The OLD "Whose Line Is It Anyway," with Clive Anderson, rocked. I miss that one.

Gallagher. I like him. You know,

"Why do vampires chase Christians? Chase Muslims, or Jews...they WON'T be carrying a CROSS!"

That's just funny when you think about it.

Re: John Henson
 

Yer from the big city, arentcha ...

damn, that's a funny scenario.

Knowing you've visited The "collectibles" thread I initiated I can only assume you're deliberately taunting me. Harsh lady, harsh

Watched that for the first time last night primarily because of what everyone said about him in this thread.

Add two more fans to the list!! I was howling at the "Michael Jackson/R Kelley jury selection" skit. That guy is hilarious!

My lifetime achievement award goes to George Carlin, who will always be the king. A second goes to John "Dr. Dirty" Valby, who's milked a 25+ year career out of playing the piano, singing dirty limericks, and turning current events into filthy song parodies at dives nationwide.

What little I've seen of Chappelle's Show, I've liked.

Other current comics I enjoy include Stephen Lynch (who's hysterical live), Doug Stanhope (standup, not Man Show material), Otto & George (the world's filthiest ventriloquist's puppet), Jim Norton, Eddie Izzard, Henry Rollins's spoken word rants (though I like his serious subject matter as well), Lewis Black, and a soft spot for Dana Gould just for his work as Gex the gecko.

I dig Lewis Black big time.

Kids in the Hall were hilarious, if derivative of Python.

The Muppet Show is one of the best variety shows ever, whether or not the actors are human.

My favorite standup guy was Zach (Greek last name - I keep wanting to say Snufflupagus...). He sat at a piano for most of his act. They gave him a show on Comedy Central, but it bombed. Hilarious act, though.

The only thing that's made me laugh out loud lately has been Adult Swim. I'm a stoner, though.

John Valby
 

Is that the guy who sang "Poisoning Pigeons in the Barn"?

If so, he's hilarious!

Re: John Valby
 

That would be Tom Lehrer, who is indeed hilarious.

I still fall apart if anyone holds up thumb and pointer finger, then pinches them while saying
"I am crrrrushing your head."

I actually heard Tom Lehrer played on the radio this morning, on MPR. Made my day! They played Oedipus Rex, but they miscued and started to play Masocism Tango...then caught it...darn. Must be a bit racy for the off to school crowd..."Loving" your mother was able to coast by, when "burn your initials in my shoulder" couldnt.

Haven't listened to Lehrer in a long while. May have to buy me some new CDs ...

John Valby is better known for "There's a Skeeter on My Peter (Whack 'im off) And the "Eat Bite" song.

Valby is COOL.

Valby will never get radio airplay.

Wasn't that a hot mess??? LOL!! You should have seen the show the day before (I think), where he invented a game show called, "I Know Black People!" It was a riot! Oh, and also, "When 'Keeping It Real' Goes Wrong" was funny too.

Went to Philly's ComedySportz Satuday night. Comedy is not in decline, you just have to find it. $15 for two hours of fun, discounted parking across the street, on-street parking two blocks north. Awesome date event.

Or find ComedySportz in your own town.

Alan King
 

Alan King, dead at 76

I loved watching the Friar's Club. Alan King was a comedian, but he also had a lot of class. He was able to mix Buddy Hackett with James Bond. He had the smartass routine down pat. He would make observations about everyday life that would bring tears to everyones eyes. He was the kind of comedian who could maintain his dignity while delivering off-color jokes.

He will be missed.http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/otn/ez/pi_cry.gif

My current favourite comedies/comedians are
The Office ( english version), Eddie Izzard, BillBailey, BlackBooks,Spaced ( couple years old but still funny) Jeremy Hardy, Linda Smith, Little Britain ( very very funny) DarkPlace ( only 4 episodes long but had me laughiong out loud) ....there sa bunch of other uk comedians whose names now escape me but who will no doubt spring t mind while I am trying to concentrate on work....Much of the really good comedy in th UK is to be found on BBCRadio4 though, rather than tv....Most of the really good tv comedy started life as radio. ( Have I Got News For You for instance)

I think Will and Grace is a damned good show, it just goes to show that if you censor tv heavily, comedy gets very good at double entendre. I know it has a very staged feel to it, but I like that , it observes certain comedic conventions very well and has the feel of theatre to it at times. Most of the really good American comedy seems to be in the form of cartoons. South Park is one of the cleverest and funniest programmes I have seen yet. Especialy the later series which have been ( imo)more overtly political and satirical.

"I'm rich, bitch!" Bahhhahaha! :haha:

OMG, the Dave Chappelle forum:
http://www.davechapelle.com/bs/index.php?act=SF&f=2

Check out the member names...LMAO!!

We just got the DVD to Season One...funny stuff.

Sound bytes from his show:
http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_show...w/sounds.jhtml

"Mmmm mmmm, bitch!"

Dave Chappelle is fucking awesome. I can't wait until season 2 comes out on DVD...the episode he did with Wayne Brady was hysterical.

Dave Chappelle is one of the funniest out there. I pulled a "Chappelle" on a buddy of mine. We're on line in Toys "R" Us, I turn to him, and say,"What did the five fingers say to the face?" My wife tried to stop me, but she wasn't fast enough. "SLAP!" Palm across the face. My buddy dropped his Star Wars figures and stared at me. I fixed my jacket, looked at him, and said "I'm Rick James, bitch!"
Some of the best comics have been the ones who pushed the limits in their times.
Sam Kinison was perfect in the time he was here.
Lewis Black, Jim Norton (crinkle crinkle), Otto and George, Nick DePaulo, Ron White (Tater Salad) all deserve to be headliners where-ever they go.
But remember, comedy is subjective.
What I like, you might not.
If you like it, great.
If you don't, don't tell me that I'll burn in Hell for liking it.
There's lots of things I'll burn in Hell for other than my taste in comedy.

*falls over LMAOOOO!!* OMG, and can you believe that he got Rick James to actually participate in that skit that he did with Charlie Murphy?? Oh man, if he could have only gotten Prince to do the Prince skit...THAT would have been classic!!! :D

"I wish I had four hands, so I could give them titties 4 thumbs down!"

Give Dave time.
His show got renewed for a new season, so you never know.
He might even have Gennifer Flowers and Monica Lewinsky on for a rousing episode of "Swallow The Leader."